Ariel from Icon For Hire

Last month Icon For Hire released their first album on a major label with, Scripted. I spoke to their exuberant, fast talking lead singer, Ariel, about their music, her journey from Sweden and making her own clothes on the road.

Q: I hear you are from Decatur, Illinois, which happens to be my mom’s hometown as well.

A: I’m sorry to hear that. I was originally born in Sweden, then moved to Minneapolis when I was six. When I was 16 my dad got a job and we moved to Decatur. I was so upset I cried myself to sleep every night! A few years later I met the guys in my band, so it all worked out I guess.

Q: You were actually born in Sweden? How did that happen?

A: My dad is from America and my mom is from Sweden. They met at Christ For The Nations in Dallas and moved back to Sweden, had some children, moved back to America and had some more children. I like to go back to Sweden as much as I can. It’s pretty expensive so my parents usually pay for it.

Q: How many siblings do you have?

A: Three. I have an older sister who is the light of my life! She just encourages me and believes in everything I do! I have two younger brothers. One of them got to go on the road with us this summer and that was awesome.

Q: How did the band get together?

A: I have always wanted to be a rock star so every time I met a musician I would freak out and tell them we should start a band! I met our guitar player, Shawn and he and I started writing together, but we needed a drummer so he called his friend Adam and he joined.

Q: Where did you get the name Icon For Hire?

A: We are very analytical people and we were talking about our modern culture. We were talking about how messed up it is that just because you look a certain way, you were born into the right family or you have enough money that you are a person of influence in society regardless of what your really know or how you live. You shouldn’t admire someone or put their poster on your wall just because they are famous! So the name is making fun of this system where you can just hire out an icon with enough money. At the same time we have totally thrown ourselves in the middle of it to take advantage of this flawed system and try to live our lives in a way that when kids do look up to us there is something to look up to.

Q: How does it feel to have your first nationally released album out?

A: It’s so surreal. I keep thinking that someone is going to pull the plug on it and tell us we can’t do this anymore so I’m just counting my blessings and enjoying every moment of it. I’ve had the songs written and recorded for months now and we have been waiting for everyone to hear them. Now it’s out and we have lots of positive comments from people that are connecting to the music and being inspired by the songs.

Q: Tell me about your first single, Make A Move.

A: Well, I really do think I’m a rapper, so most of my songs kind of come out like that. Make A Move was no different, but I set it to a melody. It’s about pink hair dye and starving children. I go through these phases where I will focus on the crisis with world hunger or human trafficking and here I am spending ten bucks a month on hair dye and buying fancy Doc Marten boots. The only way I can live with myself is to tell myself that if there is something to be done, then somebody else is already doing it and I probably shouldn‘t meddle in it. I think the only way we can get though the day in our comfortable American culture is to tell ourselves that everything is ok and numb ourselves to the truth and not think about it. I want to go to Africa and save all the babies and stop human trafficking but I don’t know how. Maybe it will help in some way to push someone to make a move and make a difference. We’ll see.

Q: I’ve never seen anything you wear available on the rack at any department stores, do you make your own clothes?

A: Yes, I bring a sewing machine with me on the road and make stuff at our merchandise table to wear on stage and I make tutus that I sell to fans. I get to keep the money from that and it helps me eat, so that is really cool! I’ve been sewing for eight or nine years. I used to make really hideous stuff, but now it’s a little bit better!

Q: You guys hit the road on your first national tour on the Fire With Fire Tour, how did that go?

A: We were the smaller band on the bill, so we had a lot to prove. It’s really fun to be around the other bands and meet lots of new people. It’s not as glamorous and some would think. Three of us sleep in the van and the other two sleep in the trailer. We don’t eat a lot during the day, but really pig out when we get to the venue!

Q: My boss told me I have to ask about the Glitter Monster. What is it?

A: This is Sean’s creation. It’s a t-shirt gun that is stuffed with a shirt, glitter, streamers, and has been painted pink and black. It shoots so high! He always knocks people out like two blocks away. It’s awesome!